Improved axle-box



Car-Axle Box.

1. AsTr-:PHE|\1s0N.

N0.- 49,005. Patented July 25. 1865.

Inventor:

UNITED STATES JOHN STE PHENSON,

or NEW Yoiiliv'. Y.

IMPROVED AXLE-BOX.

Specification forming part of Letttrs Patent No. 49,005, dated July 2'5, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oHN S'rEPHENsoN, in the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and Improved Axle-Box; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ot' this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section ot' my invention; Fig. 2, a side view of the same, with a portion of plan outline; Fig. 3, a detached edge view of a yielding or self-adjusting collar pertaining to the same; Fig. 4, a side view ofthe same; Fig. 5, a diagram showing the operation or adjustment ofthe bearing produced by Wear.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

The object otl this invention is to obtain an axle-box for caraxles which will afford greater facilities for repairs than usual, and which will promote the durability of the box and ot' the parts connected therewith.

The bearings and journals of railroad-car axles are worn more rapidly toward the shoulder in consequence of the presence of some foreign substances entering at the aperture through which the journal passes into the box. Many contrivances have been devised to prevent such entrance, most of which are complicated, requiring attention and adjustment and resultingin butpartial success. Myinvention, it is believed, is superior on account of being simple, self-regulating, and moreefcient.

I have at the rear ot' the axle-box a chamber, A, provided with an opening, a, which I prefer to have at the bottom. In this chamber I place a yielding or self-adjusting collar, B, raised to a proper height, and through which the axle C passes in its entrance into the box. The collar may be constructed of a ring of metal or other suitable material, composed of two or more parts, b, the ends ot which may iit together by what may be termed a mortise and tenon,77 so as to form close joints, but sliding ones. The exterior of the parts is grooved to receive a circular elastic band or spring, D, which has a'tendency to keep the ends of the parts in contact, or pressed toward each other, and consequently to keep the collar closely fitted on the axle, so as to move with it and serve as a gate or hindrance within the chamber, eft'ectually preventing the entrance of mud or foreign substances into the axle-box.

I would remark that I do not confine myself to the precise method of constructing the yielding collar, as described. Iffan elastic substance be used-such as india-rubber, for instancethe collar may be in one piece ofannular forni and fitted on the axle, or it may be composed of an elastic metal ring cut or divided so as to yield or give and tit snugly to the axle. The presence of dust and grit at the shoulder end ot'journal causes the abrasion of ljournal and bearing more rapidly at that locality, and consequently discomposes the relationship of the parts of axle-box and pedestal. This is alleviated somewhat by the practice ot frequently reversing the ends of the bearing, which tends to equalize the wear. This reversing ot' the bearing is attended with considerable trouble and consumption of time, requiring the car-body to be raised suflicient to separatethe box outot' the pedestal, or, asis the ing other manipulations which are rarely performed by the employes of a road. My improvement does away with all manipulations ot` this kind.

The place ot' contact of the bearing E with the root of the axle-box F is formed of longi-1 other words, the top of bearing is curved longitudinally, or the under surface, c, ofthe root' ofthe axle-box is curved, or both may becurved. In Fig. l the top of the bearing is represented with a curved surface and the un der side ot' the roofof the axle-box with a plane surface. From the above description it will be perceived that as the bearin gis faster worn away at one end the depression ot' that end changes farther o the place ot' contact ot' the bearing with the root' of box, thus relieving the pressure at the wearing part and conse quently diminishing the wear. This will be fully understood by referring to Fig. 5, in which a bearing is shown considerably worn at one end. The bearing is retained in its locality by the sides and rear otl box and checkplate F in front.

When repairs are necessary the check-plate is removed, and the slightest elevation ot' the car releases the bearing and permits it to be Withdrawn.`

case with some of the patented boxes, reqnrtudinally-dive'rging segmental surfaces, or, inl

Axle-boxes and pedestals are Worn out by` the rapid abrasion of the parts in Contact, occasioned by the incessant vertical motion to which they are subjected. I promote durability n this respect by increasing the number of surfaces in Contact, and effect this end by having the chamber A extend beyond the Sides of the axle-box7 so as to form, in connection with the usual flanges, a* a", three @hating-guides at each side of the box. (See Fig. 2.)

Having thus described iny invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of' the yielding or selfadjusting collar B with the chamber A, at the rear of the axle-box7 andthe axle C, the collar being fitted on and controlled by the axle and all arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The method of confining the bearing in the box in order to provide for the facility of its extraction, as set forth.

JOHN STE PHEN SON.

Witnesses M. M. LIVINGSTON, G. L. TOPLIFF. 

